Processing line and method for harvesting hearts from viscera packages taken out and detached from poultry carcasses

ABSTRACT

A processing line for harvesting hearts from viscera packages taken out from poultry carcasses. An apparatus with an infeed section below a conveying track to mechanically grip the viscera package. The infeed section is equipped to transfer the viscera package from which the gizzard is removed to a processing section. An outfeed section that follows the processing section, which outfeed section is arranged to make the heart as separated from the viscera package available at an outlet for the heart.

The invention relates to a processing line for harvesting hearts from viscera packages taken out from poultry carcasses, the processing line comprising a conveying track with movable carriers for conveying the viscera packages, which viscera packages at least comprise a heart, lungs and a gizzard, and which viscera packages are in use suspended from the carriers.

EP-A-0 439 904 discloses a method and apparatus for separation of the heart and liver from slaughtered poultry. The apparatus is located alongside an overhead conveyor and includes a secondary conveyor which engages a portion of the gut extending from the viscera package which is still connect ed to the eviscerated bird. A pair of guide fingers define a channel for receiving the connective tissue attaching the heart to the liver, and a first rotary knife positioned along side that channel severs the connective tissue. A second rotary knife severs the liver from the gall without cutting the gall or releasing the bile within. A pair of helical rollers separates the mutually connected heart and lungs.

It is one of the disadvantages of EP-A-0 439 904 that processing of the viscera packages requires manual intervention and operations by an operator.

Another disadvantage is that during processing of the viscera packages the viscera packages are still connected to the poultry carcasses, which makes processing relatively cumbersome.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a processing line in which manual intervention or operation by an operator is unnecessary, and wherein accordingly processing can be performed fully automatically.

It is a further object of the invention to process viscera packages that are fully detached from the poultry carcasses from which they originate.

The processing line of the invention is embodied with the features of one or more of the appended claims.

In a first aspect of the invention the processing line comprises an apparatus with an infeed section below the conveying track to mechanically grip the viscera package which is detached from the poultry carcasses and suspended from one of the carriers, and to subsequently separate the gizzard from the viscera package, wherein the infeed section is equipped to transfer the viscera package from which the gizzard is removed to a processing section of the apparatus for separating the lungs from the heart, and said apparatus further comprises an outfeed section that follows the processing section, which outfeed section is arranged to make the heart as separated from the viscera package available at an outlet for the heart.

The processing line of the invention obviates the need for an operator to intervene or to participate in the method of processing the viscera package and harvesting of the heart from the viscera package. Moreover processing can be done with the processing line of the invention after complete detachment of the viscera package from the poultry carcasses, which promotes swift processing.

Preferably the infeed section is arranged to cooperate with a carrier from the conveying track so as to operate on the viscera package while the viscera package is suspended from the carrier. This is beneficial for an effective separation of the gizzard from the viscera package.

Suitably the infeed section comprises a first roller and a set of first plates which together define a first nip to receive at least a part of the viscera package, wherein the first roller is arranged to move the viscera package in the conveying direction concurrent with the carrier from which the viscera package is suspended, while leaving the heart and lungs on top of the set of first plates.

It is further advantageous that the apparatus is pro vided with a guide plate for the gizzard below the first roller and the set of first plates, which guide plate is downwards slanting in the conveying direction so as to completely detach the gizzard from the viscera package.

Desirably the carrier is arranged to release the viscera package after removal of the gizzard to enable that the infeed section transfers the heart and lungs on top of the set of first plates to the processing section.

Preferably the processing section comprises a select ed one of a. an extension of the first roller or b. a second roller, as well as a second plate defining a second nip to catch the lungs and pull the lungs through the nip. In principle the heart is then available for supplying it to the out let, although further operations may be required in case still (part of) the lungs attach to the heart.

Preferably the selected one of a. the extension of the first roller or b. the second roller, is provided with at least one rib at its outer circumference so as to promote pushing the heart and lungs against the second plate and to assist in pulling the lungs through the nip.

In order to promote an effective separation of the lungs from the heart it is preferred that the second plate is spring-loaded.

The separation of lungs from the heart is further promoted by arranging that in the conveying direction at the end of the second roller and second plate a pinch off block is provided to sever the lungs from the heart.

Beneficially following the pinch off block a set of cleaning rollers are provided for removing any possibly remaining lungs from the heart.

Further preferably the outfeed section that follows the processing section comprises a separation bath for separating any remaining lungs that have reached the outfeed section from the heart. In the separation bath the lungs and the heart may be separated based on their different density. The heavier heart sinks in the separation bath, whereas the lungs will float.

Suitably the separation bath comprises the outlet which is provided at the bottom of the separation bath.

According to the above, the invention is also embodied in a method for harvesting hearts from viscera packages taken out and detached from poultry carcasses, wherein each viscera package at least comprises a heart, lungs and a gizzard, comprising the steps of suspending the detached viscera packages from carriers and conveying the carriers with the suspended viscera packages in a conveying track, which method is characterized by mechanically gripping each viscera package below the conveying track and subsequently separating the gizzard from the viscera package, followed by transferring the viscera package from which the gizzard is removed to a processing section for separating the lungs from the heart, and making the heart as separated from the viscera package available at an outlet for the heart.

The invention will hereinafter be further elucidated with reference to the drawing of an exemplary embodiment of a processing line according to the invention that is not limiting as to the appended claims.

IN THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a processing line according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the processing line of the invention in an isometric view; and

FIG. 3 shows in detail a carrier of the processing line of the invention with a detached viscera package suspend ed therefrom.

Whenever in the figures the same reference numerals are applied, these numerals refer to the same parts.

With first taking reference to FIG. 3, it shows a viscera package 2 taken out of and detached from a poultry carcass (not shown), and comprising heart 3, lungs 4 and gizzard 5. The viscera package 2 is suspended from a carrier 6 as is also shown in FIG. 1, to be discussed as follows.

FIG. 1 shows a processing line 1 for harvesting the mentioned hearts 3 from viscera packages 2 taken out from poultry carcasses. The processing line 1 comprises a conveying track 7 with movable carriers 6 (only one carrier is shown) for conveying the viscera package(s) 2, which at least comprise a heart 3, lungs 4 and a gizzard 5. The viscera package 2 is completely detached from the poultry carcass from which it originates.

In use of the processing line 1 the viscera package 2 is suspended from the carrier 6, and the processing line 1 comprises an apparatus 8 with an infeed section 9 below the conveying track 7 to operate on the viscera package 2 suspended from the carrier 6. For that purpose the infeed section 9 comprises a first roller 10 and a set of plates 11, 11′ which together define a first nip to receive at least a part of the viscera package 2, wherein the first roller 10 is arranged to move the viscera package 2 in the conveying direction concurrent with the carrier 6 from which the viscera package 2 is suspended, while leaving the heart 3 and lungs 4 on top of the set of plates 11, 11′. It is further shown that the infeed section 9 is arranged to subsequently separate the gizzard 5 from the viscera package 2. For that purpose the apparatus 8 is provided with a guide plate 12 for the gizzard 5 below the first roller 10 and first plate 11, which guide plate 12 is downwards slanting in the conveying direction so as to completely detach the gizzard 5 from the viscera package 2.

The infeed section 9 is further equipped to transfer the viscera package 2 from which the gizzard is removed subsequently to a processing section 13 of the apparatus 8 for separating the lungs 4 from the heart 3. To that end the carrier 6 is arranged to release the viscera package 2 after removal of the gizzard 5 to enable that the infeed section 9 can transfer the heart 3 and lungs 4 on top of the first set of plates 11, 11′ to the processing section 13.

The processing section 13 comprises a second roller 14 and a second plate 15 defining a second nip to catch the lungs 4 and pull the lungs 4 through the second nip. Instead of a second roller 14 it is also possible to apply an extension of the first roller 10 which then acts as the second roller. Typically the second roller 14 or the extension of the first roller 10 has a larger diameter than the first roller 10 at the location of the infeed section 9.

It is depicted in the figures further that either the applied extension of the first roller 10 in the processing section 13, or the second roller 14 in this processing section 13 is provided with at least one rib 14′ at its outer circumference so as to promote pushing the heart 3 and lungs 4 against the second plate 15 and to assist in pulling the lungs 4 through the nip. It is further preferred for an effective separation of the lungs 4 from the heart 3 that the second plate 15 is spring-loaded urging the second plate 15 towards the second roller 14.

As seen in the conveying direction at the end of the second roller 14 and second plate 15, a pinch off block 16 is provided to sever the lungs 4 from the heart 3.

Following the pinch off block 16 a set of cleaning rollers 17 are provided for removing any remaining (parts of) lungs 4 from the heart 3.

The apparatus 8 further comprises an outfeed section 18 that follows the processing section 13, which outfeed section 18 is arranged to make the heart 3 as separated from the viscera package 2 available at an outlet 19 for the heart 3. Suitably the outfeed section 18 that follows the processing section 13 comprises a separation bath 20 for separating any remaining (parts of) lungs 4 that may have reached the outfeed section 18 from the heart. This separation bath 20 makes use of the different densities of the heart and the lungs. The heart sinks to the bottom of the separation bath 20, whereas the lungs will float. The separation bath 20 comprises the outlet 19 for the heart which is provided at the bottom of the separation bath 20.

The apparatus of the invention 1 is thus tailored to execute a method for harvesting hearts 3 from viscera packages 2 taken out and detached from poultry carcasses, wherein each viscera package 2 at least comprises a heart 3, lungs 4 and a gizzard 5, and suspending the detached viscera packages 2 from carriers 6 and conveying the carriers 6 with the suspended viscera packages 2 in a conveying track 7, wherein each viscera package 2 is mechanically gripped below the conveying track 7 and the gizzard 5 is subsequently separated from the viscera package 2, followed by transferring the viscera package 2 from which the gizzard is removed to a processing section 13 for separating the lungs 4 from the heart 3, and making the heart 3 as separated from the viscera package 2 avail able at an outlet 19 for the heart 3.

Aspects of the invention are itemized in the following section.

1. A processing line (1) for harvesting hearts (3) from viscera packages (2) taken out from poultry carcasses, the processing line (1) comprising a conveying track (7) with movable carriers (6) for conveying the viscera packages (2), which viscera packages at least comprise a heart (3), lungs (4) and a gizzard (5), and which viscera packages (2) are in use suspended from the carriers (2), characterized in that the processing line (1) comprises an apparatus (8) with an infeed section (9) below the conveying track (7) to mechanically grip the viscera package (2) which is detached from the poultry carcasses and suspended from one of the carriers (2), and to subsequently separate the gizzard (5) from the viscera package (2), wherein the infeed section (9) is equipped to transfer the viscera package (2) from which the gizzard (5) is removed to a processing section (13) of the apparatus (8) for separating the lungs (4) from the heart (3), and said apparatus (8) further comprises an outfeed section (18) that follows the processing section (13), which outfeed section (18) is arranged to make the heart (3) which is separated from the viscera package (2) available at an outlet (19) for the heart (3).

2. The processing line of claim 1, characterized in that the infeed section (9) is arranged to cooperate with a carrier (6) of the conveying track (7) so as to operate on the viscera package (2) while the viscera package is suspended from the carrier (6).

3. The processing line of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the infeed section (9) comprises a first roller (10) and a set of first plates (11, 11′) which together define a first nip to receive at least a part of the viscera package (2), wherein the first roller (10) is arranged to move the viscera package (2) in the conveying direction concurrent with the carrier (6) from which the viscera package (2) is suspended, while leaving the heart (3) and lungs (4) on top of the set of first plates (11, 11′).

4. The processing line of claim 3, characterized in that the apparatus (8) is provided with a guide plate (12) for the gizzard (5) below the first roller (10) and the set of first plates (11, 11′), which guide plate (12) is downwards slanting in the conveying direction so as to completely detach the gizzard (5) from the viscera package (2).

5. The processing line of any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the carrier (6) is arranged to release the viscera package (2) after removal of the gizzard (5) to enable that the infeed section (9) transfers the heart (3) and lungs (4) on top of the set of first plates (11, 11′) to the processing section (13).

6. The processing line according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the processing section (13) comprises one of a. an extension of the first roller (10) or b. a second roller (14), and a second plate (15) defining a second nip to catch the lungs (4) and pull the lungs through the nip.

7. The processing line according to claim 6, characterized in that the selected one of a. an extension of the first roller (10) or b. a second roller (14) is provided with at least one rib (14′) at its outer circumference so as to promote pushing the heart (3) and lungs (4) against the second plate (15) and to assist in pulling the lungs (4) through the nip.

8. The processing line according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the second plate (15) is spring-loaded.

9. The processing line according to claim 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that in the conveying direction at the end of the second roller (14) and second plate (15) a pinch off block (16) is provided to sever the lungs (4) from the heart (3).

10. The processing line according to claim 9, characterized in that following the pinch off block (16) a set of cleaning rollers (17) are provided for removing any remaining lungs (4) from the heart (3).

11. The processing line according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that the outfeed section (18) that follows the processing section (13) comprises a separation bath (20) for separating any remaining lungs that have reached the outfeed section (18) from the heart.

12. The processing line according to claim 11, characterized in that the separation bath (20) comprises the out let (19) which is provided at the bottom of the separation bath (20) to collect the hearts.

13. Method for harvesting hearts (3) from viscera packages (2) taken out and detached from poultry carcasses, wherein each viscera package (2) at least comprises a heart (3), lungs (4) and a gizzard (5), and suspending the detached viscera packages (2) from carriers (6) and conveying the carriers (6) with the suspended viscera packages (2) in a conveying track (7), characterized by mechanically gripping each viscera package (2) below the conveying track (7) and subsequently separating the gizzard (5) from the viscera package (2), followed by transferring the viscera package (2) from which the gizzard (5) is removed to a processing section (13) for separating the lungs (4) from the heart (3), and making the heart (3) as separated from the viscera package (2) available at an outlet (19) for the heart (3).

Although the invention has been discussed in the foregoing with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the processing line and method of the invention, the invention is not restricted to this particular embodiment which can be varied in many ways without departing from the invention. The discussed exemplary embodiment shall therefore not be used to construe the appended claims strictly in accordance therewith. On the contrary the embodiment is merely intended to explain the wording of the appended claims without intent to limit the claims to this exemplary embodiment. The scope of protection of the invention shall therefore be construed in accordance with the appended claims only, wherein a possible ambiguity in the wording of the claims shall be resolved using this exemplary embodiment. 

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A processing line for harvesting hearts from viscera packages taken out and detached from poultry carcasses, the processing line comprising: a conveying track with movable carriers for conveying the viscera packages, which viscera packages at least include a heart, lungs, and a gizzard, and which processing line is equipped to separate the heart, the lungs, and the gizzard from the viscera packages and to at least discharge the heart separately, wherein the conveying track includes carriers from which during use the viscera packages are suspended; an apparatus having an infeed section below the conveying track, which infeed section is arranged to mechanically grip the viscera package which is detached and released from the poultry carcasses and suspended from one of the carriers, wherein the infeed section is further equipped to separate the gizzard from the viscera package and to transfer the viscera package from which the gizzard is removed to a processing section of the apparatus for separating the lungs from the heart; wherein the apparatus further includes an outfeed section that follows the processing section, which outfeed section is arranged to make the heart which is separated from the viscera package available at an outlet for the heart.
 15. The processing line of claim 14, wherein the infeed section is arranged to cooperate with a carrier of the conveying track so as to operate on the viscera package while the viscera package is suspended from the carrier.
 16. The processing line of claim 14, wherein the infeed section comprises a first roller and a set of first plates which together define a first nip to receive at least a part of the viscera package, wherein the first roller is arranged to move the viscera package in the conveying direction concurrent with the carrier from which the viscera package is suspended, while leaving the heart and lungs on top of the set of first plates.
 17. The processing line of claim 16, where the apparatus further comprises a guide plate for the gizzard below the first roller and the set of first plates, the guide plate slanting downwards in the conveying direction so as to completely detach the gizzard from the viscera package.
 18. The processing line of claim 14, where the carrier is arranged to release the viscera package after removal of the gizzard to enable that the infeed section transfers the heart and lungs on top of the set of first plates to the processing section.
 19. The processing line of claim 14, wherein the processing section comprises one of the following: an extension of the first roller, a second roller, or a second plate defining a second nip to catch the lungs and pull the lungs through the nip.
 20. The processing line according to claim 14, wherein the processing section comprises a selected one of the following: an extension of the first roller or a second roller; and wherein the selected one of an extension of the first roller or a second roller is provided with at least one rib at its outer circumference so as to promote pushing the heart and lungs against the second plate and to assist in pulling the lungs through the nip.
 21. The processing line according to claim 20, wherein the second plate is springloaded.
 22. The processing line according to claim 19, wherein the second plate is springloaded.
 23. The processing line according to claim 19, wherein the processing section comprises a second roller, and wherein in the conveying direction at an end of the second roller a pinch off block is provided to sever the lungs from the heart.
 24. The processing line according to claim 19, wherein the processing section comprises a second plate, and wherein in the conveying direction at an end of the second plate a pinch off block is provided to sever the lungs from the heart.
 25. The processing line according to claim 23, wherein following the pinch off block a set of cleaning rollers are provided for removing any remaining lungs from the heart.
 26. The processing line according to 14, wherein the outfeed section that follows the processing section comprises a separation bath for separating any remaining lungs that have reached the outfeed section from the heart.
 27. The processing line according to claim 26, where the separation bath comprises the outlet which is provided at the bottom of the separation bath to collect the hearts.
 28. A method for harvesting hearts from viscera packages taken out and detached from poultry carcasses, wherein each viscera package at least comprises a heart, lungs, and a gizzard, the method comprising suspending the detached viscera packages from carriers; conveying the carriers with the suspended viscera packages in a conveying track; mechanically gripping each viscera package below the conveying track; and separating the gizzard from the viscera package; transferring the viscera package from which the gizzard is removed to a processing section for separating the lungs from the heart; making the heart as separated from the viscera package available at an outlet for the heart. 